2017 Recruiting Grades: Offense

Tag: A.J. Dillon


9Feb 2017
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2017 Recruiting Grades: Offense

Donovan Peoples-Jones (image via Rivals)

QUARTERBACK: A-
Commits (1): Dylan McCaffrey
Decommits (0): N/A
Why? McCaffrey was a U.S. Army All-American and there have been whispers that Jim Harbaugh believes McCaffrey is the best high school quarterback prospect he’s seen in a long time, maybe going back to Andrew Luck. So there’s that. McCaffrey has the height, the bloodline, and the athleticism to be a very good quarterback. However, there are questions about his arm strength and mechanics. So while Harbaugh really likes him, I would have preferred someone like Davis Mills, who chose Stanford instead.

Hit the jump for the rest of the offensive grades.

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17Dec 2016
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A.J. Dillon, Ex-Wolverine

Groton (MA) Lawrence Academy running back A.J. Dillon decommitted from Michigan on Thursday and flipped to Boston College. Here’s what I wrote about Dillon back in March when he committed (LINK).

As you can see, I was not in love with Dillon. He’s a back in the mold of De’Veon Smith, in my opinion, and while Smith has done some good things, he’s not a championship- or award-caliber back. Dillon ran a laser-timed 4.64 forty, but that speed didn’t necessarily show up on the field.

I wrote a piece on Michigan’s running back recruiting not long ago (LINK) in which I outlined some possible scenarios for the position leading up to the completion of the 2017 class. Basically, Michigan seems to have a shot with just a couple guys right now to fill out the class and/or replace Dillon. One is national #1 prospect Najee Harris from Antioch (CA) Antioch. The other is Wylie (TX) East back Eno Benjamin, who is currently projected to go to Texas. There are some positive vibes about Harris potentially flipping from Alabama to Michigan, and the Wolverines were recently put in the top six for Benjamin, a former Iowa commit.

The loss of Dillon isn’t particularly damaging from a talent standpoint, but it could signal an underwhelming haul at the running back position if Michigan can’t close with Harris or Benjamin. The Wolverines had three running back commits, but are now down to two. Dillon was the second-best runner, according to the 247 Composite rankings, and the top back, Los Lunas (NM) Los Lunas’s O’Maury Samuels, is trying to shore up his academic resume. If academics causes him to fall by the wayside, then Michigan might be left with their third-best option in Loganville (GA) Grayson’s Kurt Taylor. While Michigan got a solid crew in 2016 with Chris Evans, Kareem Walker, and Kingston Davis, it would be disappointing for Michigan to only be able to bring in the 59th-best running back in the country after a year in which they were in playoff discussion and finished the regular season ranked at #6.

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11Dec 2016
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Visitors: December 9-11, 2016

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Najee Harris (image via Sports Illustrated)

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2017

Tarik Black – WR – Cheshire (CT) Cheshire Academy: Black is a 6’3″, 208 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, and Stanford, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #17 wide receiver, and #122 overall. He’ll be announcing his college decision on Wednesday, December 14, and he’s expected to pick the Wolverines.

Nico Collins – WR – Pinson (AL) Clay-Chalkville: Collins is a 6’5″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #13 wide receiver, and #90 overall. He took an official to Michigan on November 5, so this will be an unofficial visit. His Crystal Ball is 64% in favor of the Wolverines. UPDATE: Collins was unable to make the trip.

*A.J. Dillon – RB – Lawrence (CT) Groton Academy: Dillon is a Michigan commit (LINK).

*Paris Ford – S – Pittsburgh (PA) Steel Valley: Ford is a 6’1″, 180 lb. prospect who committed to Pitt in October; he also has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #12 safety, and #89 overall. UPDATE: Ford did not make the trip.

Ja’Raymond Hall – OT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Hall is a Michigan commit (LINK).

*Najee Harris – RB – Antioch (CA) Antioch: Harris is a 6’3″, 226 lb. prospect who’s been committed to Alabama since April. However, he also has an offer from Michigan – along with lots of others – and 33% of the Crystal Ball picks are in favor of Michigan, who is generally thought to have the best chance to flip him. He’s an early enrollee, so he will have to make a decision this month about whether to stick with the Crimson Tide or become a Wolverine. He’s the #1 overall recruit in the country, and getting him would mean a second year in a row where Michigan would get the #1 player (after Rashan Gary in 2016).

Hit the jump for several more visitors.

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6Nov 2016
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Visitors: Michigan vs. Maryland

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Pinson (AL) Clay-Chalkville WR Nico Collins

2017

Aaron Banks – OT – El Cerrito (CA) El Cerrito: Banks is a 6’7″, 315 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #19 offensive tackle, and #163 overall. He has been thought to be leaning toward USC. This is his official visit.

Mekhi Becton – OT – Highland Springs (VA) Highland Springs: Becton is a 6’7″, 345 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia, Michigan, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #41 offensive tackle, and #381 overall. He has been under the radar a bit as Michigan has been recruiting a lot of higher-profile linemen. This is his official visit.

Eddie Brecht – OT – Lapeer (MI) East:

Nico Collins – WR – Pinson (AL) Clay Chalkville: Collins is a 6’5″, 195 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, and Michigan, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #13 wide receiver, and #189 overall. Currently, 64% of the Crystal Balls – including mine – are on Michigan. This is his official visit.

Hit the jump for several more visitors.

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13Jul 2016
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247 Sports Top 247 for 2017 updated

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Highlands Ranch (CO) Valor Christian QB Dylan McCaffrey

Following The Opening, 247 Sports updates its top 247 prospects for 2017 (LINK). Note that this is different from the 247 Composite rankings, which take into account all four major recruiting services. Notable movement for Michigan commits includes:

  • QB Dylan McCaffrey dropped from #26 to #30
  • OT Ja’Raymond Hall has dropped from #81 to #138 since April 2015
  • DE Corey Malone-Hatcher has moved up from #183 to #169 since April 2015
  • LB Joshua Ross has dropped from #111 to #177 since April 2015

Hit the jump for the full rundown of Michigan targets on the list.

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